Several new CE webinars addressing financial issues have been added to the course catalog on AVMA Axon. These webinars are available to all veterinary professionals, and are free for AVMA and Student AVMA (SAVMA) members: Consolidation Counterpoint Explore a wide range of exit strategies, other than selling to a consolidator, that can put an exiting owner on firm financial footing while also providing for ongoing veterinary ownership of the practice. Dr. Link Welborn, president of Veterinary Study Groups, discusses key aspects and staging of the succession process, and examines arithmetic and...

The Center on Budget and Policies Priorities recently released a report on how state higher education funding cuts have pushed costs to students and worsened inequality. Specifically, the report finds: “Deep state cuts in funding for higher education over the last decade have contributed to rapid, significant tuition increases and pushed more of the costs of college to students, making it harder for them to enroll and graduate.” Alex Sands, Assistant Director of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Government Relations Division summarized the key points of the report: The benefits of...

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ (NASFAA) podcast “Off The Cuff” Episode 122: Diving Into the College Affordability Act explored the ins and outs of the newly released College Affordability Act, the House Democrats' bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act....

Paycor.com examined the benefits of employer repayment programs in “Employer Student Loan Repayment Program: 5 Tips for 2020” stating, “Companies that offer student loan debt relief can more easily attract and retain talent. In fact, studies indicate that 86% of workers between the ages of 22 and 33 would commit to an employer for five years if the employer offered a student loan repayment program.” The article provides advice to employees to help repay their student loans and also explains Abbot Laboratories novel repayment approach tied to the company’s 401(k). The...

“Applying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness: 5 Tips for Success” was posted on the official blog of the U.S. Department of Education, outlining tips for applying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. “The qualifying payments are where most folks get hung up. I've heard many financial aid officers talk about how easy it is for someone to accidentally mess up a qualifying payment. Paying too early in the month before the next billing or even paying more than the minimum due can throw the payments off. Only 1% of folks have...

In “So You Make $100,000? It Still Might Not Be Enough to Buy a Home,” * The Wall Street Journal recently looked at the increase in the number of six-figure-income families who rent instead of buy a home: “Student debt and meager savings cloud their financial future,” the story said.  The article explained how student debt was closely entwined with the housing market: “There is a connection between student loans and the housing bust, which isn’t lost on young home buyers. Many students took out loans because the housing crisis...

VHMA and VMAE are pleased to present a three-part series of practice-building webinars geared towards veterinary practice owners, managers, and supervisors at no cost. Please use the following copy to publicize this FREE resource to your members: Defining and Developing Your Dream Team   Webinar #1: It's All About the Job January 8, 2020 1:00 pm EST   Register Today The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) and Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE) are pleased to announce the launch of a new three-part webinar series. In It’s All About the Job, you will learn how to create accurate job descriptions that allow management...

Impact metrics was one of the key takeaways that resonated with participants in Jeffrey Cufaude’s recent VMAE | Live! webinar on “Successful Associations Know When To Say No.”  If you missed the live session, you can watch the archived webinar here.  Given the interest members indicated in impact metrics, Jeffrey (who is president and CEO of Idea Architects, and who will be presenting and facilitating the VMAE | Fall Conference 2019) agreed to share some additional thoughts about impact metrics. Imagine you just concluded your annual meeting. Registrations, sponsorships, and overall...